Comfort food to lift your mood and help you slim

4- page Weight Watchers REIMAGINED recipe special

When anxiety or loneliness strike, do you find yourself reaching for a leftover easter egg to cheer yourself up?

Many people turn to food to boost a low mood — particularly now that we are confined to our homes with treats on hand, calling from the fridge or cupboard to tempt us.

There are good scientific reasons for this. eating chocolate, in particular, releases several brain chemicals that have a positive effect on our emotions.

These include serotonin (a general mood- lifter) and endorphins (known to decrease levels of pain and stress), says Ray Kaur, an expert nutritionist at WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers.

On the other hand, there’s also growing evidence that an unhealthy diet can actually contribute to depression.

‘A lot of our members recognise that when you eat rubbish, you feel rubbish — and studies show that eating junk food regularly can lead to feelings of depression. This is because these foods lack vital nutrients for brain development, including omega 3 fatty acids (found in oily fish) and vitamin B12 (found in leafy greens),’ says WW head of programme Julia Westgarth.

‘This is why it’s so important to fuel your body and mind with the right foods,’ she adds.

But what you choose to eat is only part of the story.

It’s also important to see good food as something to be enjoyed and savoured — whatever the circumstances.

‘Take time to enjoy a leisurely weekend breakfast and set the table nicely for supper from time to time. It will all help to lift your spirits,’ advises Julia.

Today, as we continue our exclusive WW series to help you navigate the extraordinary challenges of lockdown and take care of your physical and mental wellbeing, we’re looking at tempting, healthier ways to make mealtimes an occasion to enjoy.

You could get the day off to a good start by sitting down to a tangy slice of avocado, lime and feta on toast or dipping into a lusciously creamy purple smoothie bowl.

Or how about a happy trip down memory lane that sees you whipping up healthier, WW versions of childhood favourites for supper, such as comforting chocolate bread and butter pudding?

BeTTeR still, not only will our WW recipes and snacks brighten your day, but they’ll also help you to lose unwanted extra pounds.

Weight gain can be a depressing result of life in lockdown for those of us who’ve found the temptation of sweet foods and takeaways hard to resist.

‘Take a little time each day to nurture yourself with good food that will benefit your mind and body’ says Julia.

‘This will not only help your general health but also boost your morale to know you are actively making your own wellbeing a priority.’